Wansdyke (earthwork) facts for kids

The Wansdyke on Tan Hill, Wiltshire

Wansdyke is a very old defensive wall made of earth in the west of England. It's like a long ditch with a raised bank next to it. The ditch side always faces north. Its name means "Woden's Dyke," named after an old god.

Wansdyke has two main parts. The eastern part is in Wiltshire. It stretches between Savernake Forest and Morgan's Hill. The western part goes from Monkton Combe to Maes Knoll, an ancient hill fort in Somerset. There's also a middle section. This part is actually an old Roman road that went from London to Bath. Some old records suggest Wansdyke might have gone even further west, but we are not sure. It might have marked a border after the Romans left Britain.

What Is Wansdyke and How Was It Used?

Wansdyke is made of two main sections. One is about 14 kilometers (9 miles) long. The other is 19 kilometers (12 miles) long. There are some gaps between them. The East Wansdyke is a very impressive earth wall. It has a ditch and a bank running east to west. It stretches between Savernake Forest and Morgan's Hill.

The West Wansdyke is also an earth wall. It goes from Monkton Combe, near Bath, to Maes Knoll, near Bristol. It is not as big as the eastern part. The middle section is about 22 kilometers (14 miles) long. People sometimes call it 'Mid Wansdyke'. But it is actually parts of an old Roman road.

For a long time, people thought all these parts were built at the same time. This was especially true in the Middle Ages. That's when the name Wansdyke was used for all three parts. However, experts today are not so sure if they were all one big project.

Why Was Wansdyke Built?

Wansdyke is one of the largest earth walls in the United Kingdom. It is similar to Offa's Dyke and Hadrian's Wall. Offa's Dyke was built later to mark a border with Wales. Hadrian's Wall was built much earlier by the Romans. It separated Roman Britain from Caledonia (Scotland).

An old Welsh monk named Nennius wrote about these defenses. He lived in the 8th century. He had access to even older writings that are now lost. Nennius connected these walls to the legends of King Arthur. This suggests they were important defenses.

The Name and Age of Wansdyke

The name Wansdyke comes from the god Woden. This suggests that the Anglo-Saxons, who arrived later, did not know who built it. They just found it there. The name "Woden's Dyke" appeared in old records from the 9th and 10th centuries AD.

Some historians believe Wansdyke was built by British leaders. This would have been after the Romans left. It might have been a defense against the invading Saxons around the 490s. One idea is that it was left unfinished. This could be because a big British victory made it unnecessary. The name "Woden's Dyke" eventually became Wansdyke.

Exploring East Wansdyke

East Wansdyke is in Wiltshire. It is on the south side of the Marlborough Downs. This area has not been changed much by farming or building. So, you can see it very clearly on the ground. In some places, the bank is up to 4 meters (13 feet) high. The ditch can be as deep as 2.5 meters (8 feet).

Since at least the 10th century, there have been gaps or "gates" in the wall. The ditch is on the north side. This suggests Wansdyke was built by the Romano-Britons. They might have used it to defend against the West Saxons. The Saxons were moving west from the Thames Valley into what is now the West Country.

Some experts think its design is like Roman border forts. It might have been built to control local people and travelers. It was not just for military defense. It is also thought that the work was never finished. It might have been abandoned due to political changes.

Exploring West Wansdyke

Older experts thought West Wansdyke went from Bathampton Down to the west of Maes Knoll. However, a study in 1960 found no proof of it existing west of Maes Knoll. Later, new old documents were found. These showed that it did exist further west.

In 2007, parts of the earth wall were dug up. These digs showed that it had existed even where you can no longer see it on the surface. The wall had a consistent design. It had stone or timber to support it. There was not much evidence to date it exactly. But it seemed to be from the late Roman or post-Roman period.

Some experts suggest that West Wansdyke continued from Maes Knoll. It might have reached the hill forts above the Avon Gorge. This would have helped control river crossings at Saltford, Bristol, and Bath.

There is not much archaeological proof to date the entire western section. It might have been a border between different British Celtic kingdoms. Or it could have been a border with the Saxons. Evidence for its western part includes earthworks on Dundry Hill. It is also mentioned in an old document and a road name.

The area became a border between the British Celts and the Anglo-Saxons. This happened after the Battle of Deorham in 577 AD. According to old Saxon records, King Cenwalh of Wessex won battles against the Britons. He won at Bradford on Avon in 652 AD. He also won at Peonnum in 658 AD. After this, he moved west. It is interesting that the names of early Wessex kings sound more British than Saxon.

A section of Wansdyke in Odd Down is about 1,330 meters (1,450 yards) long. It is a very old monument. But it is now in poor condition. It is at risk because of gardening nearby.

Wansdyke's Name Today

The Western Wansdyke gave its name to a former local area called Wansdyke. It also named a voting area in the UK Parliament. This area is now part of Bath and North East Somerset.

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